New focus for artist, thanks to broadband

Ben O’Connell

Holy Island photographer Emma Rothera says high-speed broadband has given her business new focus and helped her to attract new customers.

The landscape photographer has transformed the way she works since she signed up to superfast broadband following the arrival of the technology just over a year ago – thanks to the iNorthumberland project.

Artist Emma Rothera

Emma, who, as well as selling her photographs, offers photography workshops and tours on the historic island, said she previously felt like she was living in the past as she tried keep up with the growing demands of an increasingly online business world.

She said: “Before, I used to send images out to customers on DVDs in the post – because it was quicker than trying to send things to people online.

“If people wanted to do a course, I’d end up posting the booking form out to them.

“A lot of what I do involves uploading and downloading very big high-resolution photographic files and my old connection just couldn’t cope. I used to take my laptop and go and sit on the mainland to be able to send some files.”

But with a superfast connection, Emma has been able to relaunch her business to exploit the growing digital marketplace. She said: “With business – especially my line of work – everything has moved online. The first thing people ask me now is ‘what is your website address?’

“My website is like a shop-front in the virtual world. To be able to sell yourself you need to be online and you need a fast connection to do that properly. That is where the real marketplace is now.

“Since having fibre I have been able to use social media – things like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to market myself online.

“I started getting more commissioned work as well – you’re exposed to a much wider audience with social media.”